the one that is on there now has four wires hooked up black red white and bare the new one only has three spots what do i do with the ground
2006-07-27 06:18:34 · 5 answers · asked by littleslix 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I am assuming your talking about a 120 volt receptacle. If it's 240 volts, the wiring is different. If you look at the old receptacle and look where the black wire screws in, Is the red wire screwed in on the same side? If it is, check to see if the tab is broken off between the two. The white wire (neutral) will go to the silver screws. Hot (black) leads always go to the gold screws. If the tabs are broken off between the gold screws, then one half of the receptacle (lets say the black wire)is on one circuit and the other half(lets say the red wire) is the other half of the receptacle.
Did you ever see in somebodies home when they turn the lights on in the living-room and the lamps turned on the end tables. and a clock is plugged into the other receptacle to where the light is plugged in. How can the light turn off and on by a switch but the clock keeps on working. Well, lets say for an example the red wire controls the lights with a switch and the black wire where its connected on the receptacle stays hot all the time, so you can run that clock and it has nothing to do with the lights.
If you are worried on what is going on, then call in a electrician and he will do that for you.
Good Luck
2006-07-27 08:38:10 · answer #1 · answered by Walter B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to be more specific about what kind of outlet are you changing? If it is a 4 prong outlet for a range or dryer, you are NOT allowed to change it to a 3 prong outlet that older homes have. Get a 4 prong plug/cord for the range or dryer.
I doubt you have the case another answer suggested, because you said the ground is extra.
If you have a different situation, please explain.
If you hooked one of your white, red, or black wires to the green screw and think you have an extra ground, you shouldn't be doing this work yourself.
2006-07-28 01:18:34 · answer #2 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wiring is for 220 volts. The black is live. The red and white are neutral. The bare is ground.
2006-07-27 06:26:33 · answer #3 · answered by cherox 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Red and black are both hot..Hook the bare ground to the box
2006-07-27 08:19:20 · answer #4 · answered by dwh12345 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Walter is right.
2006-07-27 12:13:56 · answer #5 · answered by tjc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋